I am the founder of Wikipedia:WikiProject U.S. Roads. I took care of virtually all the infrastructure to keep the project running in the beginning, until other editors stepped in. While we had our issues in earlier years, today we are one of the most renowned projects on the English Wikipedia for our productivity. There are no official project leaders, but myself and a few other editors step in to keep the project running and all the project pages maintained.
In the past, I also served in several functionary and clerk positions on Wikimedia, but as my time for Wikimedia has decreased, I have stepped down from many of those. Sometimes I do show up in relevant community discussions to provide my perspective.
Sock disclosure: User:Rschen7754 public is my public account, and User:Rschen7754bot was my bot account (now inactive). Another account has been disclosed to the Arbitration Committee (and stewards), and is blocked as a doppleganger. I also sometimes operate c:User:HWY Shield Bot but it as of now has not edited the English Wikipedia.
Your job is hard. No matter how well you perform your duties, some will say you have been too lenient. Some will say you have been too strict. And some will say that you've been inconsistent or arbitrary. Likewise, some will criticize you for moving too quickly, and others will criticize you for moving too slowly.
Strive to be none of those things, neither too lenient nor too strict, neither too quick nor too slow. And never inconsistent or arbitrary. But know that you will face those claims anyway. Face those claims with friendliness and dignity, and all will be fine in the end. – Jimbo Wales[1]
But programs that actively damage this project must be discontinued, not hid behind outreach as a shield. – Courcelles[2]
I'm pretty hard-pressed to consider this the "largest-ever systematic effort of the Wikimedia mouvement to boost high quality content creation". There are several wikiprojects that easily top this effort, and I'd say that they're fairly systematic too. (Wikiproject Military History immediately comes to mind, but roads, medicine, and several others are well up there.) – Risker[3]
A phenomenon I've seen increasingly frequently in the past years is people setting themselves up in the role of a "critic of authority" and using that as a shield for their misbehaviour. Whenever someone tries to put them to task over the disruption, cue the cries of "They're trying to silence a critic!" The sad thing? It works more often than not. Most of the administrators then turn a blind eye and avoid acting for fear of being "repressive" given our powerful culture against that – and the arbitrators are even more strongly tied up given the scrutiny. – Coren[4]
When someone screams about "admin abuse", it's most likely true – they're probably abusing admins again. If there's a block involved, expect to see a battalion of sockpuppets in short order, making even more shrill cries of admin wrongdoing. – User:Antandrus/observations on Wikipedia behavior
In a similar "ask to reconsider" vein, I would point out that you appear to be conflating "administrator" with "has never written an article or otherwise contributed to Wikipedia content". Could I perhaps urge you to reconsider that notion? – Fluffernutter[5]
Civility is more than the sum of the individual words that have been said. – NuclearWarfare[6]
But as an admin, I do none of these things when confronted with an article, unless I am sure it has consensus. As an arb, I feel it necessary to be extra careful about being as conservative as possible, in order to set a safe example. (Just as when I give advice, I give safe advice, not what I would like to have done). But even as an admin or arb or whatever, I argue in favor of what I think we ought to do in order to improve the encyclopedia . Most of what I say in that manner is very far from being conservative. There have been admins, who have crossed the line a little in their admin actions. I decided early on I would never be one, and if I have any made any slips that way, I correct them. I find it wierd to be blamed for being too conservative as an admin. That's the way admins need to be. – DGG[7]
I have 100 sockpuppets. So what? My sockpuppets' contribution in Wikipedia (english & greek) is very serious. I just like having sockpuppets. This doesn't mean I want to destroy Wikipedia. Wikipedia's policy on sockpuppets is wrong. My sockpuppets are always doing a serious job. – el:User:Picker78[8]
You guys don't know how random it is to not check Wikipedia for a while and then come back and you're all singing Bohemian Rhapsody. – Scott5114[9]
Be part of the turnaround... now become part of the solution! – Me [10]
hanging out at ArbCom never made anyone a better person. – Drmies[11]
It depends on what the meaning of the word 'is' is. - Bill Clinton
Interfering in someone else's argument is as foolish as yanking a dog's ears. - Proverbs 26:17
No one cares if someone swears; what they should care about is if someone becomes so hard to work with that it gets in the way of developing good content. – Euryalus[12]
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. - Micah 6:8
Barnstars
Barnstars and other awards
On this 6th anniversary of the founding of Wikipedia, I am awarding you "My Barn". You are one of the Wikipedians that have made the most exemplary contributions to my "home" areas of Wikipedia in the past year. Congratulations! RoyalbroilT : C 17:10, 15 January 2007 (UTC)
The Original Barnstar
This Barnstar is awarded to User:Rschen7754 for your diligent and extensive work improving articles and wikiprojects related to Roads and Highways in the United States. User:MPS February, 2006
The Original Barnstar
Thank you for your work and patience at the state route naming conventions poll, in helping bring a general consensus to this long-standing debate even at the risk of one vocal opponent to the entire process. Your work on various transport related pages is of high quality and improves the quality of the encylopedia. Kudos and thank you! Seicer (talk) (contribs) 19:14, 1 September 2006 (UTC)
The Spinning Barnstar
I hereby award a spinning Barnstar to User:Rschen7754 for his dedication to maintaining California state route articles in their consensus defined form and at their consensus defined names. Keep up the good work, and don't let User:SPUI get you down. JohnnyBGood March, 2006
The Working Man's Barnstar
I award you this "Working Man's Barnstar" for your intelligent comments and hard work in moving hundreds if not thousands of state highway articles in the state route naming conventions poll. You demonstrated excellent patience when asked the progress when you knew that you faced hundreds of articles left. RoyalbroilTalkContrib 15:17, 24 November 2006 (UTC)
You deserve this barnstar for not just the interstate Wikiproject, but for the US Roads Wikiproject. In any event, I can see that your Wikiproject will get so much bigger, and first I award you this in honor of you efforts to make the editor's community a better place. I plan on being in when I can. Thanks for starting the project. User:Wikipediaman123/Signature -Wikipediaman123 14:32, 17 February 2007 (UTC)
US Roads will thank you - and so do I
The Tireless Contributor Barnstar
I, Master son give you this TC barnstar for your hard work in maintaining and expanding WP:USRD and putting up with all the fun that goes along with it - staying strong through the best - and worst - of times
U.S. Route 50 in Nevada passed FAC, thank you for the review and copyedits. It would not have passed without them.Dave (talk) 21:27, 30 March 2009 (UTC)
California State Route 56 was probably the first article I've ever touched, it being a road I've lived within a mile of for all of my life. I have to say, I screwed it up quite a bit, and even took it to GAN, when it was not even at Start-class standards yet. But now I see that you're taking the article to FAC, and it is quite an impressive piece of writing. I am very appreciative that you've taken so much work to improve this article. I'm also thankful for the advice you've given me to help me become somewhat of a better editor, even though I'm not really active anymore. — PCB 05:04, 16 November 2012 (UTC)
The Barnstar of Diligence
For all your work in seeking to protect the identities of users, particularly minors, on the project, I hereby award you this barnstar of diligence. Thank you for helping to make Wikipedia a free encyclopedia that anyone can safely edit. GoPhightins! 02:04, 26 January 2013 (UTC)
The Civility Barnstar
For resolving an aggressive edit war. Nosugarcoating (talk) 15:33, 12 July 2013 (UTC)
[[File:|180px|alt=A Barnstar!]]
Whack-a-Mole Stuffed Tiger Prize
Awarded to Rschen7754 for your extraordinary efforts to protect Wikipedia during the Morning 277 Sockpuppet investigation. The Whack-a-Mole Stuffed Tiger Prize goes to sysops who tirelessly block returning sockpuppets at Carnival Wikipedia. DocTree (ʞlɐʇ·cont) Join WER 00:41, 24 July 2013 (UTC)
For fixing my error in the WikiCup's 2013 August newsletter, please accept this. If we meet in real life ever, I'm buying you a drink. Ed[talk][majestic titan] 06:26, 29 August 2013 (UTC)
The Tireless Contributor Barnstar
I guess you've had one of these before, but I can't think of a better way to thank you for all your tireless work at SPI and sorting out the mess it sometimes gets into. Kudpung กุดผึ้ง (talk) 15:52, 30 September 2013 (UTC)
The Random Acts of Kindness Barnstar
I'd rather be over informed than not informed at all, as has been the case on more than a few afd's filed for articles I've created or done significant work on. Its Acts of Random Kindness like this that help build the community spirit here, and for that I thank you. TomStar81 (Talk) 04:04, 4 December 2013 (UTC)
Your Valiant Majesty, It gives me great pleasure to recognize Rschen7754 as a recipient of the Valiant Return Triple Crown, for earning all the elements of a Triple Crown after a legitimate return from ArbCom. Thank you for rewarding the good hopes that people had in you – you're an inspiration to others. – SMasters (talk) 06:28, 10 December 2010 (UTC)
Your majesty, it gives me great pleasure to bestow these Imperial triple crown jewels upon Rschen7754 for your roadworthy contributions in the areas of WP:DYK, WP:GA, and WP:FC. Thank you for your majestic contributions to the project! Casliber (talk· contribs) 12:55, 13 August 2012 (UTC)
100000 Edits
Congratulations on reaching 100000 edits. You have achieved a milestone that very few editors have been able to accomplish. The Wikipedia Community thanks you for your continuing efforts. Keep up the good work!
The Reviewer Barnstar
For doing your due diligence and honest opinions for failing a Good Article Nominee. Jgera5 (talk) 15:47, 4 December 2014 (UTC)
The Tireless Contributor Barnstar
For working to improve articles relating to WikiProject San Diego, especially he most recent featured article Interstate 8, I hereby present to you this barnstar. May it be a shining testament to your continued work on improving articles relating to the WikiProject. RightCowLeftCoast (talk) 17:52, 26 March 2017 (UTC)
The California Star
For your efforts in improving content regarding roads within the scope of Wikiproject San Diego I would like to present to you this barnstar. May it be a shining example to all who see it that this editor volunteers their time and efforts to strive to improve content about roads in San Diego County. May others who see it learn by this editors example and contribute positively to our open source of knowledge. RightCowLeftCoast (talk) 01:33, 11 April 2018 (UTC)
I am an active content writer, and my comments on most content-related issues are in my role as a content editor, not as an administrator. While my role as an administrator certainly does affect my interpretation of our content policies and guidelines, per WP:INVOLVED I only perform noncontroversial actions in the roads subject area (generally limited to speedy deletions, WP:HRT protection, blocks for vandalism/promotional issues, sockpuppetry, and rarely some extreme WP:CIR cases), and do not enforce most other content or behavioral policies or guidelines in this area with the use of administrative tools.
I believe that holders of advanced permissions should be accountable for their actions. Thus, my global recall/resignation pledge is located at m:User:Rschen7754/Resigning.
On this wiki, for the administrator permission, I will also accept a more traditional recall procedure. Thus, I adopt User:Courcelles/Recall as it was in this diff, with the following three amendments:
Actions unbecoming of an administrator are also included
Four of the uninvolved editors must be administrators
Any editor under a community or ArbCom sanction or blocked on any Wikimedia Foundation public wiki cannot initiate or certify a recall.
Committed identity: a89ad8e8236a2d7e75af088f1baabf52b96c6ead54868a63dcbb0c755f07bdb296dac520345e0cda407574f87fb0e350fb8cb18d38e2c028a679ae8dc4af4faf is a SHA-512commitment to this user's real-life identity.
Committed identity: 207c48ff4fb2a091ba47865bdd2835ab289cdb9c2c9b91e194799f4ada87b18fb68a38f1e260aac719b309c49ed3774436a94feea3249361ea5eb4c301ad4c20 is a SHA-512commitment to this user's real-life identity.